Jalen gets hurt and the powerhouse Philadelphia Eagles take him down San Francisco 49ers by double digits in the NFC Championship Game, 31-7, in one of the NFL’s most anticipated postseason games.
With the win, Philly is moving forward. Super Bowl LVII at Arizona (Feb. 12, 6:30 p.m. ET on FOX and the FOX Sports app).
Breakout rookie quarterback Brock Purdy left the game with an elbow injury after the Niners’ opening drive and didn’t return early in the second half when backup QB Josh Johnson left with a concussion.
Here are the highlights!
Philadelphia Eagles 31, San Francisco 49ers 7
Flying high!
Philly made a statement by putting the offense on the field instead of coming on the field with their opening goal.
On a crucial fourth down, Hurts went deep for Devonta Smith, who made a monster 29-yard snag that put the Eagles deep in the red zone. After a closer look at the game, it appeared Smith may not have caught the ball. after all …
The home team takes the lead
… But it was too little, too late. Two plays later, Miles Sanders ran straight through the Niners defense and cashed in on a shortstop to put the Phillies up 7-0. It was Sanders’ 12th rushing touchdown of the season.
Heading into Sunday’s game, the Eagles were 8-0 this season when Sanders scored a touchdown. He is one of five players in Eagles history to rush for 12 touchdowns in a season (including playoffs) and only four players to do so in the Super Bowl era, joining Hurts, FOX’s LeSean McCoy and five-time Pro. Bowler Ricky Waters.
Shaky start
On the Niners’ opening drive, Purdy tried to connect with George Kittle, but the ball came loose. The Eagles challenged the incomplete pass ruling and the play was overturned, resulting in a Purdy fumble near midfield.
San Francisco’s defense showed up when it mattered most, forcing a three-and-out after a Philly turnover.
Injuries to the 49ers mountain
Purdy did not return for the Niners’ next series. Backup QB Johnson takes the field for San Francisco; It’s three-and-out On the following drive. Purdy went to the locker room briefly before returning to the sideline, his throwing elbow wrapped and iced.
A fifth-round pick in the 2008 NFL Draft, Johnson carries a 1-8 record as a rookie and a 58% career completion percentage into Sunday’s game. The 36-year-old journeyman has been a part of an NFL record 14 different teams.
Elsewhere, Nick Bosa, who was not on the field at the time, was sidelined after the run and was being cared for by the 49ers’ training staff. He took the field on San Francisco’s possession but was ejected before the drive ended.
Those setbacks came after the Niners’ star linebacker, Fred Warner. It is temporarily damaged In the second game of the game.
What could have been.
The eagles narrowly They threw a safety on their first drive of the second quarter and went three-and-out.
Expanded!
The Niners tied things up midway through the second quarter, thanks to this furious run. Christian McCaffreyHe missed two consecutive practices this week with a calf injury.
With that touchdown, McCaffrey tied his longest streak by a 49er since Terrell Owens (1998) in nine consecutive games. McCaffrey’s nine-game hitting streak is the third-longest in Niners history (including playoffs).
On the move!
The Eagles took a 14-7 lead late in the second quarter, courtesy of a 17-yard pickup from Kenneth Gainwell that set up a smooth 13-yard touchdown from Sanders — his second score of the game.
Turn around!
Johnson fumbled the ball on San Francisco’s own 36-yard line on the 49ers’ ensuing drive. The Eagles took advantage of the new possession as Boston Scott easily found the end zone a few plays later.
Just like that, Philly took a 21-7 lead into the break.
Heading into Sunday, the 49ers were 0-4 in games with two or more giveaways this season.
QB Chaos
Johnson left the game after going down on the Niners’ first drive of the second half. He was later disqualified.
Purdy re-entered at QB for one play before San Francisco punted the ball – a handoff to McCaffrey.
Dragging
The Niners nearly forced the Eagles to punt late in the third quarter, but a punt gave Philly another chance. The drive continued and Hurts took off for 14 yards to put the Eagles in the red zone.
As if that wasn’t enough, an unnecessary roughness penalty put the Eagles at the 3-yard line, and Hurts ran in himself to give his team a 28-7 lead heading into the fourth quarter. That score made Hart pass Cam Newton for the most rushing touchdowns by 15 quarterbacks in a season (including playoffs).
Not how you drew it.
McCaffrey signed on for the Niners at QB late in the fourth quarter, but things definitely didn’t go as planned.
Sealing the agreement
As the second half winds down, the Eagles continue to pour. Tensions escalated during fights between games, resulting in both Eagles safety Kevon Wallace and 49ers running back Trent Williams being ejected.
In the end, the Eagles came away with a late 31-7 win at home. Bad recoveryPunching their ticket Super Bowl LVII (Feb. 12, 6:30 p.m. ET on FOX and the FOX Sports app) – The fourth Super Bowl appearance of all time.
Read more:
National Football League
San Francisco 49ers
Philadelphia Eagles
Get more from the National Football League Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more